NORFOLK, Va. — The governing board of Norfolk State University has fired President Tony Atwater.
The Board of Visitors’ 7-4 vote Friday stunned Atwater, who called the decision “unexpected and disappointing.” He had 10 months left on his contract.
While board members declined to explain their decision, the vote came months after the state and the university’s accrediting agency had signaled trouble at the historically Black university, according to media reports.
Atwater’s contract allowed the board to fire him without cause for the “convenience of the university.” His contract calls for him to receive his base salary of $295,000 through next June.
Sandra DeLoatch, provost and vice president for academic affairs, was named acting president.
Rector Thomas Chewning, who voted for the firing, said the board soon would discuss a search for a replacement and other details, including how long Atwater will remain in the president’s residence. He was appointed professor of communications with tenure when he was hired as president.
Atwater said he was fired for issues he inherited when he was hired two years ago. The university, he said, was in a state of upheaval when he succeeded Carolyn Meyers, who was pushed out as president in 2010.
